The noise must be spectacular.
American tuner VF Engineering has revealed a bolt-on supercharger kit for the Audi R8, and it gives the mid-engine supercar an 830-horsepower lease on life.
At its heart is an Eaton TVS2300 supercharger cooled by an air-to-water system, and the most impressive part of the kit is that no physical modifications need to be made beyond bolting on the components, which means less money spent on labor and the opportunity to easily reverse the upgrade. While a twin-turbo kit could make more ponies, a supercharger is more linear in its power output, which means you don't sacrifice as much of the R8's character.
VF Engineering
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The Roots-style supercharger has Eaton's latest-generation four-lobe rotors and is fixed to the engine with a water-cooled cast manifold. An independent water tank and heat exchangers ensure that the 5.2-liter V10 engine's preexisting cooling systems are not put under additional strain. As a result, VF Engineering confidently promises “reliable and superior horsepower without compromise.” On 91-octane gas, you get 830 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque.
All of this costs $31,995, but if you want your R8 to stand out with more than just its engine note, the tuner will paint the car in a color of your choice for another $3,000. The aero appendages and HRE wheels surely add another five-figure sum to the price, but they suit the more raucous character of the car nicely.
VF Engineering
Best of all, this kit is available for just about any variant of the R8 V10 (base, V10 RWS, and V10 Plus), and that applies to various markets too, meaning that the kit should be emissions-compliant in Europe as well as in all 50 states here at home.
The same tuner has previously applied its unique touch to cars like the Audi RS6 Avant, one of which it says is now the fastest on the planet. In addition, the outfit has also worked its magic on the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, suggesting that its work is of a very high standard.
Sadly, this may be one the very last times we get to talk about a tuned V10, as Lamborghini is rumored to be going the V8 route with the Huracan successor, and the R8 replacement is likely to be electric.
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Keyword: Audi R8 Gets 830 HP Thanks To Bolt-On Supercharger